Mounting and grounding device for swimming pool equipment



Jan. 7, 1969 MOUNT G. R. WHITTEN, JR 3,420,558 ING AND GROUNDING DEVICE FOR SWIMMIN Filed April 15, 1966 G POOL EQUIPMENT Sheet of2 172204221208 Geoqge R. Jr. by IV-W 92 aitovne s Jan. 7, 1969 G. R. WHITTEN, JR

MOUNTING AND GROUNDING DEVICE FOR SWIMMING POOL EQUIPMENT Sheet Filed April 15, 1966 United States Patent 3,420,558 MOUNTING AND GROUNDING DEVICE FOR SWIMMING POOL EQUIPMENT George R. Whitten, Jr., 400 Center St., Bellingham, Mass. 02019 Filed Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 542,888 US. Cl. 287-119 Int. Cl. E04f 11/00 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to devices for mounting and electrically grounding accessory equipment, such as ladders, stanchions, and diving boards, on a swimming pool, and, more particularly, to devices for mounting such equipment on a pool having a metal gutter such as that described in my previous application, Ser. No. 518,861, filed Jan. 5, 1966.

For safety reasons, all metal equipment and parts in and around a swimming pool must be electrically grounded by a common ground circuit. This is commonly done by underground wiring connections.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a grounding device which eliminates all wiring connections for the various accessories and, at the same time, provides a convenient means of mounting the accessories. Another object is to provide a mounting device which permits accessories to be readily removed for storage or moved from one location to another on the perimeter of the pool. Other objects, advantages and novel features will -be apparent from the following description.

Summary The grounding device here disclosed is intended for mounting on a pool having a metal gutter which is, itself, grounded to the control panel for the pump and other electrical equipment of the pool. The gutter has an inverted channel-shaped flange projecting above the deck or earth surrounding the pool. The grounding and mounting device is a socket made of a conductive material, such as bronze, having a circular upper portion and depending legs which grip the inner and outer surfaces of the flange. The device is provided with set screws in one of the legs, to secure the lower portion to the flange, and in the circular portion to secure a ladder, rail, post, or stanchion made of metal tubing.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ladder secured to a pool gutter by means of a grounding and mounting device constructed according to the invention, the pool wall and gutter being shown in cross-section;

3,420,558 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 FIG. 2 is a front view of the ladder and adjacent portions of the pool wall and gutter;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken in the region of the mounting device;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken in the region of the mounting device, as seen from the inside of the pool; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation taken in the region of the mounting device, which is shown partly in cross-section.

The pool is shown as having a concrete wall 10, but it is understood that the pool may be of metal or other construction. On top of the wall is a metal gutter assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 11, which extends around the periphery of the pool. The gutter assembly, as here shown, consists of metal sections 12 and 13 forming an inner gutter 14 and an outer gutter 15. Section 13 has an inverted channel-shaped top flange 13a which partially overhangs gutter 15 and extends above the level of the deck or ground 16 surrounding the pool to form a curb of generally rectangular cross-section.

A ladder consisting of a pair of hand rails 17, made of metal tubing, and interconnecting steps 18 is here shown mounted on the pool wall. The outer ends of the rail are mounted by a pair of grounding sockets 19 on flange 13a, and the lower ends carry rubber bumpers 20 which bear against the inner surface of the pool wall 10.

One of the sockets 19 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The socket is a casting of a conductive and corrosion resistant material such as bronze, and may be chrome plated. The socket has a tubular upper portion 19a reinforced by ribs 21, and an inverted channel-shaped base 19b having an inner leg 19c and a somewhat shorter outer leg 19d. The base is wide-r, in the longitudinal direction of the gutter, than the upper portion. The base fits around the flange or curb 13a and is secured by a pair of set screws 22 which are preferably made of corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel. Leg 19d is made shorter than leg to permit the free end of flange 13a to be buried in the ground or concrete deck surrounding the pool. The end of a handrail 17 fits into the upper portion 19a of the socket and is secured by set screws 23, also of stainless steel.

It is understood that the metal gutter assembly is electrically grounded in any convenient manner. The sockets 19 ground the ladder or other accessories mounted in a similar manner to the gutter assembly. No underground wiring for grounding accessories is required when this type of socket is used. The socket affords a large contact area between the rail and the gutter and provides a solid bolted ground connection which can be visually inspected.

This grounding device is much safer than the buried wires, commonly used, which may be subject to hidden breakage.

Accessories may be mounted in any location after the pool and deck are completed This simplifies the pouring of the concrete. The socket can be readily removed by loosening the set screws and lifting it oflF.

The socket provides a standardized mounting and grounding for all types of accessories made of metal tubing, such as stanchions starting rails, and diving board supports. Accessories may be readily added, moved to different locations, and removed for storage and servicing.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A socket of conductive material for use on a grounded, metallic edge of a swimming pool, said socket comprising a base member having a horizontally extending portion and two leg members depending therefrom there'- by forming :an inverted channel, one of said legs being longer than the other leg and adapted to face toward the pool to provide lateral support for bending stresses which may be imposed thereon by users of an accessory mounted in said socket, at least said shorter leg having force applying means thereon to retain said socket in position on said metallic edge, a socket portion integral with said base and of smaller dimension in at least one direction than said base, said socket portion having a given wall thickness with at least two diametrically disposed reinforcing ribs integral with said socket portion on the outer periphery thereof, said ribs being so disposed in said socket portion as to reinforce same against the aforesaid bending stress, and means disposed through at least one of said ribs to retain a portion of a pool accessory therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,611,935 12/1926 Mitchell 52704 X 1,963,981 6/1934 Garrett 182-93 X 2,187,633 1/1940 Smith 182206 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

RAMON S. BRITTS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

